5 Stocks Pushing The Utilities Sector Higher

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model

All three major indices are trading down today with the Dow Jones Industrial Average ( ^DJI) trading down 23 points (-0.2%) at 13,146 as of Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, 11:50 AM ET. The NYSE advances/declines ratio sits at 1,344 issues advancing vs. 1,517 declining with 152 unchanged.

The Utilities sector currently sits down 0.1% versus the S&P 500, which is down 0.3%. A company within the sector that increased today was Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras ( EBR.B), up 2.4%. A company within the sector that fell today was CPFL Energy ( CPL), up 1.8%.

TheStreet Ratings group would like to highlight 5 stocks pushing the sector higher today:

5. Energy Company of Parana ( ELP) is one of the companies pushing the Utilities sector higher today. As of noon trading, Energy Company of Parana is up $0.19 (1.3%) to $15.15 on average volume Thus far, 270,914 shares of Energy Company of Parana exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 513,500 shares. The stock has ranged in price between $15.15-$15.23 after having opened the day at $15.21 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $14.96.

Companhia Paranaense de Energia Copel engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity primarily to industrial, residential, commercial, and rural customers primarily in the state of Parana, Brazil. Energy Company of Parana has a market cap of $4.1 billion and is part of the utilities industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.8, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 28.7% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there is 1 analyst that rates Energy Company of Parana a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 2 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Energy Company of Parana as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and attractive valuation levels. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself and poor profit margins. Get the full Energy Company of Parana Ratings Report now.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass

4. As of noon trading, Korea Electric Power ( KEP) is up $0.27 (2.2%) to $12.73 on average volume Thus far, 261,071 shares of Korea Electric Power exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 678,900 shares. The stock has ranged in price between $12.73-$12.80 after having opened the day at $12.73 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $12.46.

Korea Electric Power Corporation, an integrated electric utility company, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Korea. The company generates power from nuclear, coal, oil, liquefied natural gas, hydro, wind, and solar sources. Korea Electric Power has a market cap of $16.0 billion and is part of the utilities industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.3, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 13.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there is 1 analyst that rates Korea Electric Power a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and none rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Korea Electric Power as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its poor profit margins and generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself. Get the full Korea Electric Power Ratings Report now.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass

3. As of noon trading, Enersis ( ENI) is up $0.11 (0.6%) to $18.05 on light volume Thus far, 156,438 shares of Enersis exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 522,400 shares. The stock has ranged in price between $17.87-$18.06 after having opened the day at $17.92 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $17.94.

Enersis S.A., an electric utility company, engages in the electricity generation, transmission, and distribution businesses in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Enersis has a market cap of $11.7 billion and is part of the utilities industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 12.0, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 1.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there is 1 analyst that rates Enersis a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Enersis as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, increase in net income and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself. Get the full Enersis Ratings Report now.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass

2. As of noon trading, Edison International ( EIX) is up $0.58 (1.3%) to $45.08 on average volume Thus far, 993,290 shares of Edison International exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.8 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $44.36-$45.20 after having opened the day at $44.36 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $44.49.

Edison International, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation and distribution of electric power. It operates in two segments, Electric Utility and Competitive Power Generation. Edison International has a market cap of $14.6 billion and is part of the utilities industry. Shares are up 8.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 9 analysts that rate Edison International a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 4 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Edison International as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth and solid stock price performance. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income. Get the full Edison International Ratings Report now.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass

1. As of noon trading, NRG Energy ( NRG) is up $0.31 (1.4%) to $23.05 on average volume Thus far, 3.1 million shares of NRG Energy exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 4.2 million shares. The stock has ranged in price between $22.75-$23.38 after having opened the day at $22.77 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $22.74.

NRG Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated wholesale power generation and retail electricity company. The company engages in the ownership, development, construction, expansion, modification, refurbishment, and operation of power generation facilities. NRG Energy has a market cap of $5.2 billion and is part of the utilities industry. Shares are up 24.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 6 analysts that rate NRG Energy a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and 1 rates it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates NRG Energy as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its solid stock price performance, increase in net income and growth in earnings per share. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins and generally higher debt management risk. Get the full NRG Energy Ratings Report now.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass

A reminder about TheStreet Ratings group: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.